Adjustable inking device



July 31, 1951 J. G. MGKAY 2,562,527

ADJUSTABLE INKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1947 s sheets-sheet 1 i@ DQQOMQSM www July 31 195] J. G. MGKAY 2,562,627

ADJUSTABLE INKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3l, 1951 Filed Dec. 2, 1947 J. G. MGKAY ADJUSTABLE INKING DEVICE 3 sheets-sheet s" Patented July 31, 1951 l srrss PATENT ,a

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This invention relates to the construction of a device for automatically applying numbers to a sold by the retailer. The stale packages are taken back for credit in most cases. In addition, it is essential that the oldest stock be sold rst. It is necessary in all such cases that each packagebe dated in some manner, but to place the date so that same can be read by the ultimate purchaser is undesirable since the fresh stock will be sold first while the older stock will besold last, *ifk at all.- Dates are therefore placed'upon the Dackages in the form of a code which uses a group lof numbers. These numbers are meaningless to the purchaser but clearly identify the freshness of the package upon which they appear to Vthe retaller and the distributor, permitting properarrangement of stock, etc.

.Where the margin of profit is small and large volumes are relied upon to bring the necessary return, the dating of packages becomes a major problem. Handling a package is expensive, and

Yiiexible in use so that it can be used almost anywhere. It is not intended that the code dater be changed from its position at a given plant once installed, but in order to evolve such a device which can be installed upon any assembly line or conveyor, each would have to beLcustom made,

. thereby increasing the pricevto a large extent. .Y

The primary objectiof my invention is to solve all of the problems set-forth above and to provide a new and improved device which is simple in construction and operation, economical, and highly flexible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which will include a revolving dating wheel carrying al1 the possible combinations of numbers which can be used and same being adjustable inY a, simple and expeditious manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel inking arrangement in' which the rate of ink dispensation is readily adjustable; in which a large quantity of ink can be held inthe roller of the inking device so that the same will operate for ay longtime without the need of adding ink; in which the pressure of the roller is easily adjusted and the roller itself. capable of quick removal or replacement; and in which the printing typeA is kept clean at all times.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide anew and improved dating device-in which same may be removably attached in a sturdy manner to any conveyor, wrapping machine,V oarton forming machine, .or any other placeV where cartons, labels, boxes, or cases pass on 'a'.conveyor.

Many other objects of the invention lie in the various constructional details of the invention, such as in the manner in which the pressure of the print upon the boxes is controlled; the manner inv which the dating wheel and the. individual changeable date devices Vare constructedandl arranged; and the manner'in which the wheels are mounted and arranged. Y I

, With the foregoing and other objectsin view which will' appear as the description proceeds, the .invention consists of certain novel features' of construction, arrangement and a combinationof parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, `size and minor details ofthe structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of this invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when cons'idered in connectionwiththe following'y description, this invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters. of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar partsthroughout' the several figures of the drawings:

Fig. 1 isa front elevational view of my printing device showing same attached to a conveyor carrying a line of cartons which are to be imprinted with code dates.

Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3l is a side elevational view of the printing device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 a sectional view taken along the line y 4-' 4. ofFig. 6 in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View through the entire includes an anvil I1, and a screw I8.

yP past the device.

3 device taken on a vertical plane along the line 5-5 of Fig. 6 and in the indicated direction.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken through one of the individual dating devices to show the con struction thereof.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a carton showing the manner in which the matter is printed thereon.

At the outset it should be understood that although the device has been described as primarily for use in the code dating of perishable and semi-perishable food stuffs, it is not so limited in its use. My new device can be used to apply any manner of numbers, printing, symbols, dates, or insignia on any line of moving objects.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that one of the great advantages of my device is that it is capable of being made from standard or easily formed parts. The general elements of the device are the clamp I0, which may be a simple large C-clamp, the bracket II, the frame I2, the printing wheel I3, the inking wheel I4. the pressure device I5 and the stop device I6. All of these are designated generally and will hereinafter be described in more detail.

The clamp I0 is of the conventional type and In the illustrations the screw I8 engages the bottom of the platform I9 of the conveyor 20 while the anvil I1 engages the top thereof. The conveyor includes a belt 2I which carries the packages The bracket II upright portion 22 which is attached to the clamp body by a metal strap 23 held in position by the nut and bolt 24. Loosening the nut and bolt 24 permits rotation of the bracket II about the axis of the upright 22, or axial movement of said upright. In the preferredembodiment, the bracket II is formed from shafting to permit this rotation. There is a portion which actually serves as a shaft at the end of the upright 22 and bent at right angles thereto. This l shaft portion of the bracket II is designated 25.

In installing the device upon the conveyor 20, it is essential that the shaftportion 25 be spaced above the surface that is to be imprinted, and that the axis of the shaft 25 be perpendicular to the line of motion of the packages P. This will be brought out presently.

The frame I2 is rotatably mounted on the shaft portion 25. Said frame I2 consists of two identical plate members 26 and 21 held in spaced relationship by a spacer rod 28 and the endsfof which are respectively attached to the plate members 26 and 21 by appropriate nuts 29 and washers 30. For this purpose the ends of said spacer may be threaded as shown at 3I and extend through appropriately positioned holes in said plates. Obviously any means of spacing the plates 26 and 21 one from the other will suffice. In the embodiment shown the plates 26 and 21 are formed as substantially circular members having a portion removed along a chord forming the straight edge 32 on each plate member.

has an Each of the plate members 26 and 21 has openended slots 33 and 34 formed therein at opposite sides thereof, spaced from and parallel with the straight edge 32. The upper slots 33 accommodate the inking device I4, while the lower slots 34 accommodate the printing wheel I3.

The mountings for these devices are adjustableY ends as shown at 43.

'which the wheel I4 revolves.

4 along the lengths of the slots 33 and 34 so that positions and pressures may be varied within the limit of the extent of said slots.

Attention is directed to Fig. 5 showing a sectional view of the inking wheel I4. The Wheel I4 comprises a soft member 50 of circular formation and being highly absorbent. Same may be formed from foam rubber, for example and should have the property of being porous throughout to permit the dispensing of ink thereby. The disc 5I) is sandwiched between a pair of cups 35, 36 each having an annular gripping portion 31 and a concave portion at the center thereof as indicated at 38. The concavities are mounted facing one another so that the' center of the disc 50 is free to absorb the maximum amount of ink. Openings 39 are provided in the cups 35, 36 so that ink may be introduced'into the cavities to be absorbed by the disc 5D. The cups 35, 36 are each mounted on the shoulder 4D of a bushing 4I by means of appropriate recesses being formed in the central openings of said cups. The bushings 4I in turn are mounted on a sleeve 42 having threaded Cup-shaped threaded nuts 44 are engaged upon said threaded portions 43 to hold the cups 35, 36, disc 50, and bushings 4I in assembled relationship. The nuts 44 are cup shaped to provide clearance for the nuts 45 which cooperate with nuts 46 and washers 41 for holding the shaft 48 between the plates 26 and 21 so that the sleeve 42 may freely revolve thereon. Note that there is a space 43 between the inner ends of the bushings 4I permitting considerable adjustment of the distance between the cups 35, 36. The natural springiness of the disc member 5D opposes inward movement of the cups 35, 36 one towards the other. It is obvious that the amount of compression to which the edges of the disc 50 are subjected will control the rate at which inkV will ow from the center of the disc 50. I have therefore provided va simple and effective ink control which is adjustable merely by turning the nuts 44. This will in no way affect the freedom with If desired, the outer surfaces of the nuts 44 may be knurled in order to permit manual adjustment of the ink flow.

In connection with the description of the inking wheel I4 above, it should be pointed out that the shaft 48 acts as a spacer between the plates 26 and 21.

The printing wheel I3 is mounted in a manner similar to the inking wheel I4. A shaft 5I which as well acts as a spacer is attached between the plates 26 and 21 with its threaded ends 52 protruding through the slots 34. Nuts 53 are fastended upon the threaded ends 52 inside the plates 26 and 21, while the nuts 54 and washers 55 are fastened outside of said plates. A sleeve 56 having threaded ends 51 is mounted upon the shaft 5I for free rotation thereon. Said sleeve carries the wheel I3 by means of the nuts 58 and washers 59.

The wheel I3 comprises a pair of discs 60 and 6I which carry numberers therebetween. Each of said numberers is constructed identically and hence the description of any one will include the rest. Said numberers are indicated generally at 62, and are mounted in a manner to be described. Each numberer includes a substantially U-shaped frame 63 as best shown in Fig. 7. Said frame comprises a base portion 64 and right and left leg portions 65 and 66. Each numberer 62 is mounted so that the frame'63bordersthree sides of a rectangular opening 6l provided therefor in each of the discs Sii and 6I. There are provided as manyopenings 61 as numberers B2 about the circumference of the discs 6U and 6I, said rectangular openings 61 being spaced inwardly of the perifery of the discs 60 and SI, and the U- shaped frames facing radially outwards of said wheel. The frames S3 have their thicknesses extending between the inner faces of the discs 60 and 6I, and hence space same apart. The bolts and nuts $3 clamp the frames 63 `in position.

' Across the free ends of the leg portions and @t there extends a bridge member Ill of generally channel shaped cross section and having the channel ends abutting against the inside faces of the leg portions 65 and 66 for spacing same apart.v The ends of the bridge member 'I0 are provided with ears 'II and I2 which are adapted to engage within the slots 'I3 and 'I4 provided on said leg portions 65 and S6 and Abe bent over thereupon. The frame member 65 is thereby fixed as to its conformation. A feature which is highly important to this invention is the formation of the bridge member 'I0 in arcuate form and of a curvature corresponding to that of the discs G and I. The reasons for this shortly will be apparent.

The frame (i5 is provided with a group of friction wheels and printing strips, the construction of which is generally well known and used in commercially available numberers of this type. Thus, there is provided a shaft I5 carried in the bearing openings 76 and TI. IThe end 'I8 of the shaft which engages the opening 'Il is provided r.

with a groove IS for engaging the edge of the opening 'Il' to permit disassembly in a manner well known; The shaft 'I5 carries friction wheels 3Q, Bi, B, and 83, each having the usual knurled flange 81S, 85, 86, and 81 respectively. A spacing washer is shown at 59. Flexible printing tapes or bands 88, 83, Si), and SI are carried by the respective wheels, each tape being endless and eX- tending around the respective Wheel and the bridge lil. The tapes all carry rubber printing numbers or letters in the usual manner as indicated at 92. The diameter of the knurled flanges 84 to El is greater than the width of the frame S5 and hence the Wheel flanges vextend outside of the openings 61 so that same may be manipulated from outside of the wheel I3 for changing the face of the characters 92 positioned upon the bridge l!) in the Well known manner of operating such numberers.

As stated above, the general construction of the numberers 62 is well-known, but attention is now directed to a constructional detail thereof which is one of the features of the invention. The wheels 83 to 83 are mounted upon the shaft 'I5 for free rotation thereof when the knurled anges 84 to 8l are moved. The distance from the shaft to the bridge 'I0 is substantially different at the ends of the shaft 'I5 than at the center of the shaft by reason of the curvature of the bridge l. In order that the tapes 88 to 9I all be under substantially uniform tension, it is necessary to compensate for this variation of distance. The preferred expedient, and one which is highly economica] is to provide the wheels 8l and 82 with bearings larger than those of wheels 8D and 83. Such bearings are openings 94 and 95 and they permit the wheels 8I and 82 to be rotated as desired in the same manner as wheels 80 and 83, while the tapes 33 and 9U move eccentrically of the movement of tapes 88 and 9|, thereby compensating for the differences in distance above referred to.

By my construction, the necessity of providing special Wheels, shafts or tapes is eliminated' without loss of operating efficiency.

Having described theinking wheels I4 kand the printing Wheel I3, the manner of operation thereof should be pointed out. The characters 92 are adjusted to protrude from the edge of the wheel I3 a slight amount. Said edges are milled as shown at 96 in order that same will frictionally engage and Ybe moved by the moving line of packages P. Thus the pressure to which said characters P are subjected can be adjusted for` optimum conditions of printing and wear. The wheel I4 is adjusted so that the free edge thereof is engaged by the characters 92 as same rotate past. Movement ofthe wheels lI3 and Iii relative to one another is obtained by adjustment of the respective positions of said wheels in the slots 33 and .34.

The position of the frame l2 along the shaft 25 is adjusted by means of a pair of collars 91 and 98 respectively bearing against the inner faces of the plate members 23 and 2l. The collar 98 is a part of the pressure device I5 and the collar QI is a part of the stop device l. Eachcollar is capable of being fixed to the shaft 25 by the set screws 93 and iiil. A spring I! is coiled about the shaft 25 and has one end IGZ thereof attached to the collar 93, and the opposite end E33 extending perpendicularly from the shaft 25 to slightly beyond the spacer rod 23 whereby said rod is engaged thereby. The spring IGI therefore serves to urge the frame I2 downwardly, or clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, about the shaft 25, with the pressure controlled by the `amount with which the collar 98 has been rotated about the shaft 25 prior to aflixing same thereon. If desired additional openings (not shown) to accommodate the end E02 may be provided about the face of collar 93.

The downward movement above described is limited by a stop member mit which is attached to the collar Sl, and the free end of which extends beneath the spacer rod 28.

The manner of operation lof the device is generally as follows: The characters 32 are adjusted in each of the numberers by manipulation of the appropriate wheels 8B to 83, and the stop member I04`is adjusted so that the distance which the periphery of the wheel I3 is spaced above the conveyor belt is slightly less than the thickness of the packages P. The tension of the spring IBI is adjusted so that the packages will engage beneath the wheel I3 and lift same together with the frame I2, rotating said frame a slight amount about the shaft 25 Without injuring the covering of said package. As the package P moves past vthe wheel I3, the milled edges engage the surface of the package causing the characters to be impressed against said package. While the wheel is rotating, ink from the inking wheel I3 is being applied to the characters of the numberer 62 opposite to the one engaging the package.

The position of the impression relative to the package P can be adjusted by changing the position of the frame l2 along the shaft 25. In Fig. 8 the impression Ille is shown placed along an edge of the package P. A

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing Without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred 'within the purview of my invention as dened in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the character described which is adapted to print characters on packages moving past the same, and which includes rotatable printing means carrying printing characters; an inking device adapted to supply ink to said printing means, comprising a disc member of highly porous, resilient ink-absorbing material, cup members for holding said disc member under compression with the peripheral edges of said disc member exposed and arranged to contact said printing means, openings in said cup members for introducing ink to said disc member, and means for adjusting one cup member relative to the other, thereby regulating the flow of ink from the center of said disc member to the edges thereof.

2. In a device of the character described which is adapted to print characters on packages moving past the same, and which includes printing means carrying printing characters; an inking device adapted to apply ink to said inking characters comprising an absorbent foam rubber disc, cup members for holding said disc under compression with the peripheral edge of said disc exposed and adapted to contact said inking characters, said cup members having annular gripping portions about their peripheries facing inwardly toward one another and a concave portion at their centers facing one another, openings in the cup members for introducing ink to the disc, and means for adjusting said annular gripping portions relative to each other thereby regulating the ow of ink from the center of said disc to the edge thereof.

3. In a device of the character described which is adapted to print indicia on packages moving past the same and which includes printing means: an inking device adapted to supply ink to said printing means comprising an absorbent foam rubber disc, cup members for holding said disc under compression with the peripheral edge of the disc exposed and adapted to contact and carry ink to said printing means, said cup members being mounted at their respective centers on a shaft adapted to rotate with the disc, means on the shaft for moving said cup members toward one another axially of the shaft thereby adjusting the compression of the foam rubber disc regulating the ow of ink from the center of the disc to the peripheral edge thereof.

4. In a device for printing indicia upon a. moving line of packages and which has a characterbearing printing member; an inking wheel for rolling ink upon the characters of the printing member which comprises a disc of highly absorbent, porous rubber of foamy cellular composition, thereby providing capillary passage for ink throughout the disc, a pair of juxtaposed pressure plates arranged with the said disc sandwiched therebetween under compression, and means for varying the spacing between the plates to adjust the compression and thereby adjust the rate at which ink will flow to the edge of the disc, said wheel having means for rotatably mounting the same.

5. A construction as described in claim 4 in which the wheel has a passageway to enable ink to be introduced to the compressed disc.

JAMES G. McKAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 782,923 Robertson Feb. 21, 1905 809,188 King Jan. 2, 1906 980,795 Kirkby Jan. 3, 1911 1,235,424 Boyles July 31, 1917 1,267,167 Baker May 21, 1918 1,377,941 Thomas May 10, 1921 1,597,100 Moore Aug. 24, 1926 1,699,337 Williams Jan. 15, 1929 1,727,978 Huebner Sept. 10, 1929 1,869,022 Phare July 26, 1932 2,004,576 Kirsch June 11, 1935 2,090,919 Strother et al Aug. 24, 1937 2,172,318 Ferguson Sept. 5, 1939 2,267,661 Meyers Dec. 23, 1941 2,233,360 Sei-ai Feb. 25, 1941 2,343,721 Van Tuyl Mar. 7, 1944 2,348,537 Greenwood May 9, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 534,361 France Mar. 24, 1922 

